British Open Free Picks
The Open Championship (sometimes referred to as the British Open to distinguish it from other national opens), is the oldest of the four major championships in men's golf. Each year the event is hosted by one of several prestigious golf clubs in Britain; however, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) administers The Open regardless of its site. It is always played on a links course.
The Open Championship is played in July, and is the third major to take place each year, after The Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open, but before the PGA Championship. It has been an official event on the PGA TOUR since 1995, which means that the prize money won in the Open by PGA Tour members is included on the official money list. In addition, all Open Championships before that date have been retrospectively classified as PGA Tour wins, and the list of leading winners on the PGA Tour has been adjusted to reflect this. The PGA European Tour has always recognized The Open as an official event.
Tom Watson won five Opens, more than anyone else has since the 1950s, but his final win in 1983 brought down the curtain on an era of U.S. domination. In the next eleven years there was only won American winner, with the others coming from Europe and the Commonwealth. The European winners of this era, Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, who was the first Scottish winner for over half a century, and the Englishman Nick Faldo, were also leading lights among the group of players who began to get the better of the Americans in the Ryder Cup during this period.
In 1995, The Open became part of the PGA Tour's official schedule. John Daly's win in that year, which was a huge surprise even though he had won a major before, began another era of American domination. Tiger Woods has won two Championships to date, both at St Andrews in 2000 and again in 2005. There was a dramatic moment at St Andrews in 2000, as the aging Jack Nicklaus waved farewell to the crowds while the young challenger to his crown as the greatest golfer of all time watched from a nearby tee; Nicklaus afterwards decided to play in the 2005 Open when the R&A moved the location to St. Andrews, and gave what will presumably be his truly final farewell to the fans. In 2002, all Open wins before 1995 were retrospectively classified as PGA Tour wins. Recent years have been notable for the number of wins by previously obscure golfers, including Paul Lawrie in 1999, Ben Curtis in 2003 and Todd Hamilton in 2004.
Multiple Winners
Players with more than one Open Championship victory to 2005 inclusive: